Carton sealing machine



Nov. 17, 1959 P. F. BOWMAN CARTON SEALING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet lFiled-Dec. 4, 1958 INVENTOR. 64w f. fidiVM/NV Nov. 17, 1959 P. F. BOWMANCARTON SEALING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4, 1958 I Hi l! 0/38lllllh l lllllll Nov. 17, 1959 P. F. BOWMAN CARTON SEALING MACHINE 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 4, 1958 WI/MlllllWl/l/Ji H a FTW M 4 M M W c Aw A P I .m w a la M United States Patent @fifiee 2,912,806 Patented Nov.17, 1959 2,912,806 CARTON SEALING MACHINE Paul F. Bowman, Ridgewood,N.J., assignor to Alford Package Machines, Inc., Bergen, N.J., acorporation New Jersey Application December 4, 1958, Serial No. 778,252

15 Claims. (Cl. 53-76) This invention relates to a carton sealingmachine. Specifically, the invention relates to a compact, semiautomaticmachine for sealing the end flap of filled cartons.

Carton closing and sealing machines are common in the packagingindustry, but known machines are so large and expensive that they arenot economically available for use in many operations which today resortto the manual sealing of filled cartons.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide acompact,.inexpensive carton sealing machine which is largely automaticin its operation, and which can be used to advantage in packagingoperations in which, for one reason or another, known sealing machinescannot be employed to an advantage.

The objectives of the invention are served herein by a machine whichprovides a pressure face and an articulated platen, forming therebetweena carton throat adapted to receive and to apply pressure to a series ofcartons being sealed, in combination, with means for applying anadhesive to the flaps to be sealed and means for advancing cartonsstep-by-step through the carton throat wherein sealing contact isestablished and maintained long enough to insure a good seal.

The machine is characterized by a unique operating and control mechanismwherein a single motor device first operates an adhesive applyingmechanism by which adhesive is applied to the underside of a carton flapto be sealed, and which then operates to advance the carton into thecarton throat.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the machine will bepointed out in the. following specification when read in conjunctionwith the drawings forming a part hereof and in which a presentlypreferred embodiment of the machine is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a face elevational view of a preferred form herein;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in cross-section,showing the elements thereof at an intermediate point of an operativecycle;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3, however, showing theelements thereof at the end of an operative cycle;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view along line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a detail view, partially in cross-section, illustrating themounting of a paste comb pivot shaft;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a pneumatic operating motorand its related control system; and

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view through a pilot valve associated withthe pneumatic operating motor of Fig. 8.

Reference to Figs. 1 and 2 will show that the operative parts of thesealing machine herein are mounted of the carton sealing machinecomprising the invention on a supporting channel 10 which consists of abase 12 and a head 14. The supporting channel consists of a lower face16 and a pressure face 18 formed as an upward continuation of the lowerface 16, a first side flange 20 and a second side flange 22. Thesupporting channel is held in an upright position, as shown in Figs. 1and 2, by means of a pair of feet 24 and 26 at opposite sides thereof.

Attached to the head 14 of the supporting channel 16) is a pressureplaten 28 which is in the form of a channel-like member having a platenface 30 (Figs. 3 and 4) disposed in confronting relationship to. ,thepressure face 18 of the supporting channel head 14. As indicated in Fig.6, the pressure platen 28 is preferably co-extensive, or nearly so, inwidth with the pressure face 18 of the supporting channel head 14 andthe platen face 30 is defined by a pair of inwardly extending platenflanges 32 and 34. The pressure platen 28 is mounted on the supportingchannelhead 14 for limited parallel movement in respect to the pressureface 18 by means of parallel platen links 36 and 36a, near the topthereof, and a second pair of parallel platen links 38 and 38a, near thebottom thereof. The platen links are of equal length such that as thepressure platen 28 israised or lowered, the space between its face 30and the pressure face 18 of the supporting channel head 10 aremaintained in parallelism.

The extent of movement of the pressure platen 28 is limited by thelength of platen link slots 40, 40a, through which the respective upperplaten links 36, 36a extend and by the length of similar slots 42, 42a,through which the respective lower platen links 38, 38a extend. One endof each of the platen links is mounted for rocking movement on studsextending inwardly from the side flanges 20 and 22 of the supportingchannel head 14, as, for example, the stud 44 which mounts one end ofthe upper platen link 36. The other end of the platen links engage studsextending outwardly from the platen flanges 32 and 34 of the pressureplaten, as, for example, in the case of a stud 46 on which the upperplaten link 36 is connected to the flange 32 of the pressure platen.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the pressure face 18 of thesupporting channel head 14 and the platen face 30 of the pressure platen28 between them form a yielding throat through which packages 48undergoing sealing are adapted to pass. 1

Mounted within the throat, between the pressureface 18 and the platenface 30, is an elevator platform 50. This platform is supported by apair of elevator rods 52 which are guided for vertical movement in anupper guide bracket 54 and a lower guide bracket 56. The guide brackets54 and 56 are attached to the lower face 16 of the supporting channel10, as by welding, for example. The elevator rods 52 also pass freelythrough holes in a crosshead 58 which is fixed to the end of a pistonrod 60 constituting an operative element of a pneumatic operating motor62; the pneumatic operating motor 62 being comprised of the piston rod60, a piston 64, a cylinder 66, and a pilot valve 68.

Welded to one end of the crosshead 58 is a lug 70 which constitutes apivot point for a first toggle lever 72 which, together with a secondtoggle lever 74, forms a toggle system by which motion is imparted to apaste applying mechanism. The first and second toggle levers 72 and 74are pivoted together by means of a pivot pin 76, and the second togglelever 74 has its other end mounted on a stud 78 which extends inwardlyfrom the fiange22 of the supporting channel base 12 about which thelever 74 is adapted to rock. The pivot pin 76, by which the toggle links72 and 74 are connected, also connects an operating shaft 80 to thetoggle system. The

operating shaft 84) extends from the pivot pin 76 of the toggle linksystem upwardly to a connecting finger 82 formed as a radial extensionat one end of a paste comb pivot shaft 84; the free end of the operatingshaft 8d and the free end of the connecting finger being connected bymeans of a pivot pin 86. The opposite ends of the paste comb pivot shaftare journalled for rocking motion respectively in the first side flangeand in the second side flange 22 of the head section M of the supportingchannel ll). The paste comb ivot shaft 84 carries a plurality of pasteapplying '[Sctl'r ch, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each comprises agenerally radial steam portion by which they are fixed to the paste combpivot shaft 84 and a generally arcuate shaped portion 92 terminating ina free end it by whic paste may be applied to the underside of r onflap, as to be described more fully hereinafter.

It is now apparent that if air is admitted to the pneumatic operatingmotor 62 through its pilot valve 63 the piston 64 and the piston rod 60will operate to carry the crosshead 58 upwardly. The toggle links 72 andwill be moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 such that the operatingshaft 8% will rock the paste comb pivot shaft 84 in a clockwisedirection with the result that the teeth 88 of the paste comb are movedthrough a body of paste 96 in a paste pan fill to apply drops of pasteto the inner surface of a carton end flap Hill, as shown in Fig. 3.

The elevator platform 50 normally occupies the position shown in Figs. 1and 2 when the piston rod 69 is retracted into the cylinder at of thepneumatic operating motor 62. In this position, the elevator platform51'; is at the lower edge of a flap slot 1% (Fig. 4 formed across thelower part of the pressure face 18. The flap slot 102 is at least aswide as the width of a carton on which the machine is intended tooperate. Thus, when a carton 48, filled and sealed but for the flaps atone one, is laterally inserted into the throat formed between the platenface 30 and the pressure face 18 such that it rests on the elevatorplatform 50, its outer flap 1430 will extend through the fiap slot 1-92at an angle, as shown in Fig. 3. If the pneumatic operating motor 62 isnow operated to project its piston rod 69, the paste applying mechanismwill operate as previously described to deposit spots of paste on theunderside of the carton flap 100. After the application of the pastespots, it will be necessary to press the paste on the underside of theiiap 1 I like into contact with an inturned underlying flap such that anadhesive seal is effected. The actual sealing-operation takes place uponthe continued projection of the piston rod 60 whereby the carton 48 iselevated in the throat formed between the platen face and the pressureface 18.

The elevator rods 52 carry a pair of stop collars res which are adaptedto cooperate with the crosshead 53 to move the elevator rods 52 and theelevator platform upwardly. Thus, as the pneumatic operating motor v-52continues to project its piston rod 61 the crosshead 58 will come intocontact with the stop Collars 1% with the result that the elevator rods52 are carried upwardly during the movement of the crosshead 58 which isto follow. The upward limit of the piston rod as is shown in Fig. 4,wherein it can be seen that the elevator plat form 50 has been carriedupwardly into the carton throat to a point above the flap slot 192.During such upward movement, the flap 1% of the carton will move intocontact with an out turned lip 19%; which defines the upper edge of theflap slot 192. As the elevator platform 50 continues to push the carton48 upwardly in the carton throat, the carton flap 1100 will be pressedinto contact with the underlying flap 104, such that an adhesiveconnection between the two is established.

It is the object of the mechanism herein to maintain a constant pressureagainst the sealed end of the carton for a sufficient period of time toinsure an effective adhesive connection between the carton flaps. Tothis end, the carton throat is made sufiiciently long that a number ofsealed cartons are accommodated therein before the first carton ispresent at the top of the throat from which it is removed.

The pressure platen 28 is sufficiently heavy to provide the necessaryforce to press the sealed end of the cartons against the pressure face18 of the supporting channel head. It will be appreciated that theplaten links 38, etc. will permit constriction of the carton throat toLie size of the cartons being processed therein, such that the weight ofthe pressure platen 2% is supported by the cartons themselves. Thisinsures a suflicient pressure against the sealed flaps of the carton toestablish a perfect seal.

A sea.ed carton or cartons are held above the flap slot a by means of aseries of stop fingers 1116 which, as best seen in Fig. 5, projectthrough respective slots 11?. formed in the pressure face In; of thesupporting channel head. The stop fingers are formed in the free end ofa stop plate 11 which is pivoted for rocking movement in a pair of stopplate pivot brackets 116 and Hon fixed, respectively, to the sideflanges of the supporting channel head 14. Thus, when the elevatormechanism advances a carton upwardly in the carton throat, the advancingcarton on the elevator platform 5% will rock the stop fingers Hitoutwardly to permit the carton to pass but when the elevator platformSill is withdrawn, after having advanced a carton beyond the stopfingers ill the stop fingers will fall back into the carton throat toengage the bottom edge of the carton so advanced thereby supporting thebottom carton and any cartons thereabove in the sealing throat.

The operation of the machine is largely automatic by reason of a controlsystem for the pneumatic operating motor 62 which includes a controlvalve in the path of a carton being inserted into the machine whichinitiates the sealing operation and a second control valve which is inthe path of the crosshead 58 which terminates the sealing operation andrestores the mechanism to a rest position.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammitic view of the pneumatic operating motor 62 andthe associated control mechanism. Air from a suitable source ofcompressed air is admitted to the pilot valve 68 by way of a conduit118. As seen in Fig. 9, the pilot valve comprises a valve chamber 129 inwhich reciprocates a valve spool 122. The valve spool 122 has acircumferential recess 124 which presents a pair of surfaces 124a and1241) of equal size such that air under pressure entering by Way of theconduit 113 will maintain the valve spool 122 centrally located Withinthe valve chamber. Opposite ends of the valve chamher are connected tovent conduits 126 and 128, re-

ectively, such that if either of the vent conduits 126 or .128 is ventedto the atmosphere the balanced condition within the pilot valve Will bedestroyed and the pilot valve will move toward the vented side of thevalve chamber 12d. The valve spool 122 is connected to a slide valve 134which controls the entrance and egress of air from the cylinder 66 byalternately opening and closing air passages 132 and 134 which connectthe pilot valve, respectively, to the bottom of the cylinder 66 and tothe top thereof.

The vent conduit 126 has a spring pressed ball vent valve 136 at its farend, this valve being located adjacent the rear end of the elevatorplatform 54 in such position that as a carton 43 is properly positionedon the elevator platform 50 when the platform is in its retractedposition, as shown in Fig. 3, the carton will contact the valve 136 andopen the same, venting the left side of the valve chamber to atmosphereby way of the vent conduit 128. The end of the vent conduit 126 with asimilar spring pressed ball vent valve 138 attached thereto is locatedunder the upper guide bracket 54, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, such thatwhen the crosshead 58 is ra es moved to its extreme upper position, itwill contact the vent valve 138 and open the same, thereby venting theright side of the valve chamber 120 to atmosphere. Thereupon the slidevalve 130 will be shifted to connect the pressure conduit 134 to thepressure source.

From the foregoing it can be seen that as a carton to be sealed isinserted into the sealing machine by posltioning the same upon theelevator platform 50 when the elevator is in its lower position, therear of the carton as it is fully inserted will operate the vent valve136 thereby venting the left side of the valve chamber 126 to atmospherevia the vent conduit 128. The valve spool 122 will thereupon move to theleft within the valve chamber 120 such that the inlet 132 to the bottomof the cylinder 66 is opened. The piston 64 within the cylinder will bedriven upwardly with the result that the crosshead 58 will operate thetoggle links 72 and 74 from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 to thatillustrated in Fig. 3. The flap 100 of the carton 48 will extend throughthe flap slot 102 as shown in Fig. 3 and thereby be in position toreceive the application of paste as the paste comb teeth 92 areoscillated through the paste 96 in the paste pan 98. As the crosshead 58continues to move upwardly, the paste comb will recede and the crossheadwill engage the stop collars 106 such that the elevator rods 52 and theelevator platform 50 will begin to rise upwardly. During upward movementof the elevator platform 50, the carton 48, to whose flap the paste hasbeen applied, will be carried upwardly such that the flap 100 willcontact the flap closing lip 108 by which theflap will be turnedinwardly as relative movement continues. Upon continued upward movementof the elevator platform 50, the flap 100 will be pressed into contactwith the underlying flap 104 such that a good seal is developed betweenthe flaps as previously described. As the elevator platform 50 reachesthe upper end of its stroke, the stop fingers 110 will engage the bottomedge of the carton 48 and hold the carton against retrograde movement.At this time the crosshead 58 will come into contact with the vent 138and open the same, the vent valve 136 having been released in themeanwhile by removal of the carton from contact therewith. When the ventvalve 138 is opened, the right side of the valve chamber 120 will bevented to atmosphere by way of the vent conduit 126 such that the valvespool 128 will move to the right in the valve chamber, thereby ventingthe lower end of the cylinder 66 to atmosphere via its conduit 132 andadmitting air to the upper end of the cylinder 66 via the conduit 134.The piston 64 will now be driven downwardly in the cylinder 66 such thatthe piston rod 60 and the crosshead 58 are returned to their normalposition, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Whether or not a pneumatic operating motor such as the motor 62 isemployed will depend largely on the environment in which the sealingmachine is to be used. Many food processing plants, such as dairies andbakeries, are required, for sanitary reasons, to cleanse all processingareas and equipment by the application of abundant quantities of waterand for such installations, pneumatic operating motors are ideal sincethere is no'water sensitive electrical equipment and circuitry employedin such equipment. For other installations, however, it may be entirelysuitable to operate the sealing machine by means of electrical driveequipment.

The use of adhesives in any equipment demands that the adhesivereceptacles and adhesive applying devices be readily removable forcleansing purposes. Accordingly, the paste pan 98 is removably mountedwithin the supporting channel and the paste comb pivot shaft 84 isremovably mounted in the first and second side flanges and 22 of thesupporting channel. One way of mounting a paste comb pivot shaft forquick removal is shown in Fig. 7, wherein the Shaft 84 (teeth not shown)has an elongated spindle 140 of reduced diameter at one end 6 thereofwhich is adapted to receive and support a hearing hub 142 which may befixed to the spindle 140 by means of a thumb screw 144. The spindle 140is sufficiently longer than the bearing hub 142 to permit the bearinghub to slide inwardly on the spindle 140 thereby retracting its bearingsurface 146 from the second side flange 22 in which it is journalled.When the bearing hub 142 is inwardly retracted, the opposite bearing 148of the shaft 84 can be withdrawn from the first side flange 20 withoutdifiiculty and the entire paste comb assembly can be removed simply byremoving the pivot pin 86 which connects the operating shaft with theconnecting finger 82 of the paste comb pivot shaft.

Removal of the paste comb assembly is important for still a furtherreason. Fig. 5 indicates a total of nine paste applying teethconstituting the means by which spots of paste are applied to the cartonflap. This number may be desirable for one type of sealing operation,whereas more or fewer teeth may be more suitable for other sealingoperations. Therefore, paste comb assemblies having a different numberof paste applying teeth may be provided such that the machine can beadapted easily to the requirements of a particular sealing operation.Furthermore, the amount of paste applied by any particular pasteapplying tooth is dependent in large measure on the area at the end ofthe tooth which makes contact with the carton flap to be sealed.Therefore, if more or less paste is to be applied at any given spot onthe fiap being operated on, a paste comb can be selected which has evena greater or a less contact area. In other words, the end 94 of theteeth may be made blunt or relatively pointed to control the amount ofpaste that any tooth will apply and the ready interchangeability of thepaste applying combs facilitate the selection of a comb of proper designfor any particular operation.

While the fundamentally novel features of the inven-- tion have beenillustrated and described in connection:

with a specific embodiment of the invention, it is believed. that thisembodiment will enable others skilled in the art. to apply theprinciples of the invention in forms departing: from the exemplaryembodiment herein, and such departures are contemplated by the claims.

I claim:

1. In a carton sealing machine, a pressure face and an articulatedplaten forming therebetween a carton throat adapted to receive and applypressure to a series of cartons being sealed, a carton supporting andadvancing platform located in one end of said throat, adhesive apply ingmeans located along one side of said platform for applyingadhesive tothe flap of a carton on said platform, a drive motor, means forinitiating operation of said drive motor, a connection between saiddrive motor and said adhesive applying means for first applying anadhesive to the flap of a carton on said platform, a connection betweensaid drive motor and said platform for thereafter advancing saidplatform to advance a carton thereon in said carton throat, and meansfor restoring said platform after each carton sealing operation.

2. In a carton sealing machine, a vertical pressure face and a verticalarticulated platen forming therebetween a vertical carton throat adaptedto receive and apply pressure to a series of cartons being sealed, acarton supporting and advancing platform located at the bottom of saidthroat, adhesive applying means located along one side of said platformfor applying adhesive to the flap of a carton on said platform, a drivemotor, means for initiating operation of said motor, a connectionbetween said drive motor and said adhesive applying means for firstapplying an adhesive to the flap of a carton on said platform, aconnection between said drive motor and said platform for thereafterraising said platform to advance a carton thereon in said carton throat,and means for restoring said platform after each carton sealingoperation.

3. In a carton sealing machine, a vertical pressure face and a verticalarticulated platen forming therebe tween :1 vertical carton throatadapted to receive and apply pressure to a series of cartons beingsealed, a carton supporting and advancing platform located at the bottomof said throat, adhesive applying means located along one side of saidplatform for applying adhesive to the flap of a carton on said platform,a drive motor, means operable by a carton on said platform forinitiating operation of said motor, a connection between said drivemotor and said adhesive applying means for first applying an adhesive tothe flap of 2. (313011 on sa d platform, a connection between said drivemotor and said platform for thereafter raising said platform to advancea carton thereon in said carton throat, and means operative upon theraising of said platform for restoring said platform after each cartonsealinc c 4-. in a carton sealing machine, a pressure face and anarticulated platen forming therebetween a carton throat adapted toreceive and apply pressure to a series of cartons being sealed, a cartonsupporting and advancing platform located in one end of said throat, aslot in said pressure face along one side of said platform for receivingthe of a carton to be sealed, adhesive applying means located beyondsaid slot, a drive motor, a connection between said drive motor and saidadhesive applying means for first applying an adhesive to a carton flapextending through said slot, a connection between said drive motor andsaid platform for thereafter advancing said platform to advance a cartonthereon in said carton throat, and means for restoring said adhesiveapplying means and said platform after each carton sealing operation.

In a carton sealing machine, a pressure face and an articulated platenforming therebetween a carton throat adapted to receive and applypressure to a series of cartons being sealed, a carton supporting andadvancing platform located in one end of said throat, a slot in saidpressure face along one side of said platform for receiving the flap ofa carton to be sealed, adhesive applying means located beyond said slot,a drive motor, a direct connection between said drive motor and saidadhesive applying means for first applying an adhesive to a carton flapextending through said slot, a lost motion connection between said drivemotor and said platform for thereafter advancing said platform toadvance a carton thereon in said carton throat, and means for restoringsaid adhesive applying means and said platform after each carton sealingoperation.

6. In a carton sealing machine, a pressure face and an articulatedplaten forming therebetween a carton throat adapted to receive and applypressure to a series of cartons being sealed, a carton supporting andadvancing platform located in one end of said throat, a slot in saidpressure face along one side of said platform for receiving the flap ofa carton to be sealed, adhesive applying means located beyond said slot,2. drive motor, carton operated means located in the path of a carton onsaid platform for initiating operation of said motor, a connectionbetween said drive motor and said adhesive applying means for firstapplying an adhesive to a carton flap extending through said slot, aconnection between said drive motor and said platform for thereafteradvancing said platform to advance a. carton thereon in said cartonthroat, and means for restor adhesive applying means and said platformafter each carton sealing operation.

7. In a carton sealing machine, a pressure face and an articulatedplaten forming therebetween a carton throat adapted to receive and applypressure to a series of cartons being sealed, a carton supporting and advancing platform located in one end of said throat, a slot in saidpressure face along one side of said platform for receiving the flap ofa carton to be sealed, adhesive applying means located beyond said slot,a drive motor, carton operated means located in the path of a carton on5 said said platform for initiating operation of said motor, aconnection between said drive motor and said adhesive applying means forfirst applying an adhesive to a carton flap extending through said slot,0. connection between Skid drive motor and said platform for thereafteradvancing said platform to advance a carton thereon in said cartonthroat, anzl means operable by the continued operation of said motorwhen a carton has been advanced in said throat for restoring saidadhesive applying means --ud said platform after each carton sealingoperation.

8. In a carton sealing machine, a vertical pressure face and a verticalarticulated platen forming therebetween a vertical carton throat adaptedto receive and apply pres sure to a series of cartons being sealed, acarton supporting and advancing platform located at the bottom of saidthroat, a slot in said pressure face along one side of said platform forreceiving the flap of a carton to be sealed, adhesive applying meanslocated beyond said slot, a drive motor, a connection between said drivemotor and said adhesive applying means for firs applying an adhesive toa carton flap extending through said slot, a connection between saiddrive motor and said platform for thereafter elevating said platform toadvance a carton thereon in said carton throat, and means for restoringsaid adhesive applying means and said platform after each carton sealingoperation.

9. In a carton sealing machine, a vertical pressure face and a verticalarticulated platen forming therebetween a vertical carton throat adaptedto receive and apply pressure to a series of cartons being sealed, acarton supporting and advancing platform located at the bottom of saidthroat, a slot in said pressure face along one side of said platform forreceiving the flap of a carton to be sealed, adhesive applying meanslocated beyond said slot, a drive motor, a connection between said drivemotor and said adhesive applying means for first applying an adhesive toa carton flap extending through said slot, a connection between saiddrive motor and said platform for thereafter elevating said platform toadvance a carton thereon in said carton throat, and stop means forengaging the bottom of a carton advanced in said throat.

10. In a carton sealing machine, a pressure face and an articulatedplaten forming therebetween a carton throat adapted to receive and applypressure to a series of cartons being sealed, a carton supporting andadvancing platform located in one end of said throat, a slot in saidpressure face along one side of said platform for receiving the flap ofa carton to be sealed, adhesive applying means located beyond said slot,reciprocating drive means, a connection between said drive means andsaid adhesive applying means for first applying an adhesive to a cartonflap extending through said slot, a connection between said drive meansand said platform for thereafter advancing said platform to advance acarton thereon in said carton throat, and means for restoring saidadhesive applying means and said platform after each carton sealingoperation.

ll. In a carton sealing machine, a pressure face and an articulatedplaten forming therebetween a carton throat adapted to receive and applypressure to a series of cartons being sealed, a carton supporting andadvancing platform located in one end of said throat, a slot in saidpressure face along one side of said platform for receiving the flap ofa carton to be sealed, adhesive applying means located beyond said slot,a pneumatic cylinder and piston, a connection between said drive pistonand said adhesive applying means for first applying an adhesive to acarton flap extending through said slot. a connection between saidpiston and said platform for thereafter advancing said platform toadvance a carton thereon in said carton throat, and means for restoringsaid adhesive applying means and said platform after each carton sealingoperation.

12. In a carton sealing machine, a pressure face and an articulatedplaten forming therebetween a carton throat adapted to receive and applypressure to a series of cartons being sealed, a carton supporting andadvancing platform located in one end of said throat, a slot in saidpressure face along one side of said platform for receiving the fiap ofa carton to be sealed, oscillating adhesive applying means locatedbeyond said slot, a drive motor, a connection between said drive motorand said adhesive applying means for oscillating said adhesive applyingmeans to first apply an adhesive to a carton flap extending through saidslot, a connection between said drive motor and said platform forthereafter advancing said platform to advance a carton thereon in saidcarton throat, and means for restoring said adhesive applying means andsaid platform after each carton sealing operation.

13. In a carton sealing machine, a pressure face and an articulatedplaten forming therebetween a carton throat adapted to receive and applypressure to a series of cartons being sealed, a carton supporting andadvancing platform located in one end of said throat, a slot in saidpressure face along one side of said platform for receiving the flap ofa carton to be sealed, adhesive applying means located beyond said slot,a drive motor, a connection between said drive motor and said adhesiveapplying means for first applying an adhesive to a carton flap extendingthrough said slot, a connection between said drive motor and saidplatform for thereafter advancing said platform to advance a cartonthereon in said carton throat, and means operable by a carton on saidplatform for energizing said drive motor.

14. In a carton sealing machine, a pressure face and an articulatedplaten forming therebetween a carton throat adapted to receive and applypressure to a series of cartons being sealed, a carton supporting andadvancing platform located in one end of said throat, a slot in saidpressure face along one side of said platform for receiving the flap ofa carton to be sealed, adhesive applying means located beyond said slot,a reciprocating motor, a direct connection between said drive motor andsaid adhesive applying means for first applying an adhesive to a cartonflap extending through said slot, a lost motion connection between saiddrive motor and said platform for thereafter advancing said platform toadvance a carton thereon in said carton throat, and means operable by acarton on said platform for energizing said drive motor.

15. In a carton sealing machine, a vertical pressure face and a verticalarticulated platen forming therebetween a vertical carton throat adaptedto receive and apply pressure to a series of cartons being sealed, acarton supporting and advancing platform located at the lower end ofsaid throat, adhesive applying means located at one side of saidplatform for applying adhesive to a carton flap to be sealed, a drivemotor, means operable by a carton on said platform for energizing saiddrive motor, a connection between said drive motor and said adhesiveapplying means for first applying an adhesive to the flap of a carton onsaid platform, a lost motion connection between said drive motor andsaid platform for thereafter raising said platform to advance a cartonthereon in said carton throat, and means operable by said connectionbetween said motor and said platform for reversing said drive motor andfor thereby restoring said adhesive applying means and said platformafter each carton sealing operation.

No references cited.

